Strategies for Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Agro-food Supply Chain Disruptions

168 Pages·2017·0.81 MB·English

Walden University
ScholarWorks
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Collection
2017
Strategies for Preventing and Mitigating the Effects
of Agro-food Supply Chain Disruptions
Everjoyce Muzvondiwa
Walden University
Follow this and additional works at:https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations
Part of theAfrican Languages and Societies Commons,African Studies Commons,Agricultural
and Resource Economics Commons,Agricultural Economics Commons,Business Administration,
Management, and Operations Commons, and theManagement Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Commons
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been
accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please
[email protected].
Walden University

College of Management and Technology

This is to certify that the doctoral study by

Everjoyce Muzvondiwa

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects,
and that any and all revisions required by
the review committee have been made.

Review Committee
Dr. Gregory Uche, Committee Chairperson, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty

Dr. Gergana Velkova, Committee Member, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty

Dr. Scott Burrus, University Reviewer, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty

Chief Academic Officer
Eric Riedel, Ph.D.

Walden University
2017
Abstract
Strategies for Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Agro-food Supply Chain
Disruptions
by
Everjoyce Muzvondiwa

MS, University of London, 1990
BS, University of Zimbabwe, 1986

Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Business Administration

Walden University
October 2017
Abstract
Supply chain disruptions are detrimental to the performance of companies due to the
associated loss of profitability and reduced sustainability. In 2016, organizations lost at
least $1.2 million in a single supply chain disruption. Guided by the contingency theory
of fit, the purpose of this exploratory multiple case study was to explore the strategies
agribusiness managers use to prevent and mitigate the effects of disruptions in the agro-
food supply chains. A total of 5 purposefully-selected agribusiness managers from
Harare, Zimbabwe participated in semistructured interviews. Participants were senior
agribusiness managers who implemented successful strategies for preventing and
mitigating the effects of disruptions in agro-food supply chains. Three themes emerged
from the thematic analysis of interview data and review of organizational documents:
collaboration among supply chain partners, business continuity management, and the use
of a multiple supplier base. Agribusiness managers must first understand the sources of
disruption risk, assess the impact of the risk, and then select an appropriate strategy based
on the level of uncertainty and risk. By managing the risks effectively, managers can
improve the performance and competitiveness of their businesses. The implications for
positive social change may include a reduction in supply chain costs, provision of better
services and products to consumers, and lower prices of agro-food products to consumers
which could lead to an improvement in the lives of consumers.
Strategies for Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Agro-food Supply Chain
Disruptions
by
Everjoyce Muzvondiwa

MS, University of London, 1990
BS, University of Zimbabwe, 1986

Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Business Administration

Walden University
October 2017
Dedication
I dedicate this academic accomplishment to the memory of my late father and
mother, Elias and Miriam Karedzera, who instilled in me the importance of education and
hard work. Your stories served as inspiration to me. I also dedicate this doctoral study to
my husband Eilex, and children, Tinashe, Farai, and Tinotenda for their unwavering
support, understanding, encouragement during my pursuit for this doctoral degree. Their
amazing support and unconditional love during the many hours that I sat at our dining
table working on the dissertation were critical to my success. I hope through what I have
achieved academically and professionally, I have been able to teach my children that
learning and growth are possible at any age.
Acknowledgments
I am thankful to my committee members for the generous and unwavering support
throughout this study. Specifically, I want to thank Dr. Gregory Uche, my committee
chair for his help, support, encouragement, patience, and for taking me through each step
of the doctoral journey. To Dr. Gergana Velkova, my second committee member, thank
you for your guidance, professionalism, exceptional commitment and support. Thank you
for your critical reviews and for challenging me to improve the quality of my work
presentation. I also wish to acknowledge and offer my special thanks to Dr. Scott Burrus
and Dr. Freda Turner for their time, commitment and continued faculty support.
I am indebted and thankful to my cohorts for encouraging and supporting me on
this long journey. To Tinashe and Danai, thank you for providing excellent information
technology support. Finally, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my peers, family,
and friends for their support, prayers, and encouraging words.
Table of Contents
Section 1: Foundation of the Study ......................................................................................1
Background of the Problem ...........................................................................................1
Problem Statement .........................................................................................................2
Purpose Statement ..........................................................................................................3
Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................3
Research Question .........................................................................................................5
Interview Questions .......................................................................................................5
Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................6
Operational Definitions ..................................................................................................7
Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations ................................................................8
Assumptions ............................................................................................................ 8
Limitations .............................................................................................................. 8
Delimitations ........................................................................................................... 9
Significance of the Study ...............................................................................................9
Contribution to Business Practice ........................................................................... 9
Implications for Social Change ............................................................................. 10
A Review of the Professional and Academic Literature ..............................................11
Contingency Theory of Fit .................................................................................... 12
Contrasting Theories ............................................................................................. 15
Supply Chain Disruptions ..................................................................................... 17
Supply Chain Design and Management ................................................................ 23
i
Sustainable Supply Chain Management ............................................................... 28
Supply Chain Collaboration .................................................................................. 31
Supply Chain Resilience ....................................................................................... 38
Technology and Supply Chains ............................................................................ 44
Supply Chain Risk Management .......................................................................... 53
Transition .....................................................................................................................58
Section 2: The Project ........................................................................................................59
Purpose Statement ........................................................................................................59
Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................59
Participants ...................................................................................................................61
Research Method and Design ......................................................................................63
Research Method .................................................................................................. 63
Research Design.................................................................................................... 64
Population and Sampling .............................................................................................67
Ethical Research...........................................................................................................69
Data Collection Instruments ........................................................................................71
Data Collection Technique ..........................................................................................73
Data Organization Techniques .....................................................................................75
Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................76
Reliability and Validity ................................................................................................78
Reliability .............................................................................................................. 79
Validity ................................................................................................................. 80
ii
Transition and Summary ..............................................................................................82
Section 3: Application to Professional Practice and Implications for Change ..................83
Introduction ..................................................................................................................83
Presentation of the Findings.........................................................................................83
Applications to Professional Practice ..........................................................................99
Implications for Social Change ..................................................................................101
Recommendations for Action ....................................................................................102
Recommendations for Further Research ....................................................................103
Reflections .................................................................................................................104
Conclusion .................................................................................................................105
References ........................................................................................................................107
Appendix A: Certificate of Completion – National Institutes of Health .........................153
Appendix B: Letter of Cooperation .................................................................................154
Appendix C: Invitation Letter to Potential Participants ...................................................155
Appendix D: Interview Protocol ......................................................................................157

iii